DOMESTIC | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 48.

DOMESTIC.

—Twelve Alaska gold seekers, who left Skagway for Dyea on November 17 in an open fish boat, were capsized in a squall and driven out to sea. All were drowned.

—The Kansas Board of Agriculture has issued a statement of the net increase of the value of Kansas crops and herds during the year, and places it at $40,554,231.

—California is making preparations for the celebration of her Golden Jubilee, the fiftieth anniversary of the discovery of gold in that State. The celebration will begin January 24, and last one week.

—A meteorite weighing about ten pounds fell at Binghamton, N. Y., recently, which when broken open disclosed a metallic tablet bearing peculiar markings. It is claimed by some that this must be a message from Mars.

—It is reported that Governor Pingree, of Michigan, has purchased an asphalt lake in Venezuela for the purpose of breaking the asphalt combine in the United States and permitting local contractors to engage in street paving.

—The only woman monk in the world now lives in Chicago. She is known as the Swami Abhayanada, and the religion she teaches is that of Brahmanism. It is her object to found a universal religion for all peoples and nations. Her followers now number about one hundred.

—The New York Board of Health is becoming somewhat alarmed over the remarkable prevalence of consumption in that city. Dr. Biggs, speaking for the board, has declared that one out of every seven deaths in the city is due to that disease, and that among the working classes tuberculosis claims one in four.

—Banker Spaulding, ex-president of the Globe Savings Bank, of Chicago, has been given an indeterminate sentence to the penitentiary. He was charged with embezzling funds of the University of Illinois, of which he was treasurer, the discovery of the embezzlement having been brought to light through the failure of the bank.

—The United States revenue cutter Bear sailed from Seattle on November 27, to carry food to the crews of the eight whaling vessels imprisoned in the ice of the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska. The distance from the place at which the Bear will land its overland party to the frozen-in whalers will be about 1,000 miles, and the route will be along the coast line.

—A remarkable discovery of prehistoric remains has been made in Indian Territory by Archaeologist Walters. The discovery consists of an ancient battleground, evidently the scene of the last stand made by the Mound-Builders against the Maya Toltecs. From extensive excavation made it is believed that at least 100,000 warriors met death here, and that the battle occurred 2,000 years ago.

—The pastor of the First Baptist Church, of Trenton, N. J., has introduced the novel feature of girl ushers into his church service. He reports that the innovation was a great success, both in drawing a crowd, and in filling the contribution plates, which were carried around by the young ladies, and states that he believes in getting people to the church regardless of the means employed as long as they are honest.

—The Pacific Cable Company, whose directors are prominent New York capitalists, has announced that it will lay a cable line from the Pacific Coast to Hawaii within eighteen months. Plans have been prepared for 9,000 miles of cable, running to Japan, China, and Australia. This cable company will have close connections with the Western Union, the Mexican, and the Central and South American Telegraph Companies.

—Mgr. Martinelli, papal delegate to the United States, has advised the Vatican not to array itself against the cause of Cuban independence and in favor of the maintenance of Spanish rule in Cuba, as such a course would be detrimental to the interests of Catholicism in the United States. He states that there will be great losses to the Catholic Church in America unless it can be shown that the bishops have thrown their influence upon the popular side.